Machine for operating upon sheet material



March 5, 1935 BALLARD 1,992,936

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHEET MATERIAL Filed Dec. 22, 1931 2Shani-Sheet 1 March 5, 1935. M. H. BALLARD MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPONSHEET MATERIAL 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 22, 1951 Patented Mar. 5, 1935UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHEET MATERIAL Milton H.Ballard, Beverly,

Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson,

N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Applicaticn December 22, 1931, SerialNo. 582,570

13 Claims.

921,503, granted May 11, 1909, upon an application filed in the name ofArthur Bates.

Machines oft'he type referred to commonly comprise a cutting bed, apost, and a presser arm secured to the post and movable about the axisof the post over the cutting bed, there being means for reciprocatingthe post to produce pressure-applying strokes of the presser arm againsta die on the bed. Such machines are commonly provided with meansassociated with the presser arm by which an operator can move thepresser arm into operative position over the heel and initiate apressure-applying movement.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved clickingmachine of novel con: struction which, without sacrificing theadvantages of such machines as heretofore constructed will greatlyfacilitate the starting operation and will render it more uniform,thereby contributing to the efficiency of the operator.

In View of the foregoing, the clicking machine illustrated asconstituting one embodiment of the invention is provided with a leverfor controlling power means for causing reciprocation of a post andmanually controlled means carried by a presser member or arm and movablethrough a predetermined distance in any of the angular positions of thepresser arm to efiect a movement of the lever through a constantpredetermined distance. Preferably and as shown, the lever is pivotallymounted upon the frame of the machine and has a free end portion whichextends into proximity to the post and Which is engaged by an annularmember mounted concentrically of the post and movable heightwisethereof. As shown, the manually controlled means comprises a handlepivotally mounted upon the presser arm and making connection with theannular member whereby depression of the handle will effect a movementof the annular member heightwise of the post with the result that thelever will be moved through a predetermined angle. A machine constructedas above outlined is advantageous in that operation of the startinghandle in any position of. the presser arm laterally of the block willresult in the movement of the lever through a constant angle with theresult that the starting operation is uniform. In other words, thepressure-applying operation is initiated by operation of the manuallycontrolled means through the same predetermined distance and withsubstantially the same effort regardless of where the presser arm islocated. This contributes to the efliciency of the operator, in view ofthe fact that it relieves the operator from giving any particularconsideration to the starting operation.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed specification when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 represents an elevation of a portion of a clicking machineembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View illustrating details 1 of the mechanism foroperating the starting lever;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, illus trating the mounting andarrangement of the starting mechanism; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along line IV-IV of Fig. 3 andillustrating details of the mounting of the starting handle. 7

The invention is illustrated as embodied in a machine of the typecommonly known in the trade as a twin clicking machine Since oppositeends of the machine are substantially identical, only the right-handportion of the machine is illustrated. As shown in Fig. 1, the machinecomprises a frame 10 upon which is supported a cutting bed 12 adapted tocarry a cutting block 14. Positioned at one end of the frame is apost 16to which is secured a presser arm 18, the post being mounted forrotation in the frame so that the presser arm can be moved transverselyover a the cutting block 14. In order to produce pressure-applyingoperations of the arm 18 upon the cutting bed, the post 16 is mountedfor reciprocation in the frame. To this end the post is supported by aconnecting rod 20 arranged tobe reciprocated by an eccentric 22 upon ashaft 24, the latter being arranged to be driven bya flywheel 26 towhich it can be connected at the will of the operator by suitable clutchmechanism which includes as one of its parts a clutch-control lever 28.The clutch mechanism, which is not illustrated in detail, is preferablyof the onerevolution type, such as that disclosed in United StatesLetters Patent No. 1,011,903, granted December 19, 1911 upon anapplication filed in the name of Arthur Bates.

Preferably and as shown, the mechanism for initiating an operation ofthe presser member comprises a manually operable member or handle 30carried by the presser arm 18 and which is operable to actuate a lever32 pivotally mounted upon a shaft 34 carried by the frame 10. The shaft34 carries at its outer end a second lever 36 to which is connected atrip rod 38 which, in turn, is connected at its lower end to a lever 40operative to elevate the clutch lever 28 to cause engagement of thefly-wheel and shaft.

The presser arm 18 comprises a main casting 42 having flanged. portions44 extending laterally therefrom to form the striking face of thepresser member. Also forming part of the arm is a cap 46. The bodyportion 42 and the cap 46 are positioned on opposite sides of the post16 and are clamped together on the post by a U- haped bolt 48, the upperportion of the casting 42 being secured to the post by a U-shaped member59. It is to be noted that the post 16 is located rearwardly of thecenter line of the cutting bed. This is for the purpose of providingspace at the for ward portion of the block for the positioning ofmaterial on the block and to prevent the obstructing of the passage oflight to the block as far as is possible. In view of this, in order toprovidea striking surface on the presser arm 18 which will make itpossible to operate on any part of the right-hand portion of the cuttingblock 14, the flanges 44 are asymmetrical with respect to the bodyportion 42 on opposite sides thereof.

The starting handle 36 is U-shaped and has a central portion 52extending substantially parallel to and somewhat above the forward edgeof the flange 44. Extending from the portion 52 at each end thereof aretwo arms 54 and 56 the ends of which are plvotally mounted upon thepresser arm. The arm 54 extends through an opening 58 in the presser arm42 and is provided at its end with a bushing 60 which extends over astud 62 positioned axially of the body portion 42 of the arm, the studhaving a spherical end portion 64 which is engaged by the bushing 60.The other arm 56 has at its end an extension 66 having a countersunkbore 68 which surrounds a shaft 70 extending axially of the presser armand mounted for rotation relatively to the arm. The shaft 70 is reducedto form a spherical portion '72 which bears against the central portionof the bore 68, there being clearance between the bore and the shaft 76so that there can be some angular movement of the arm 56 relatively tothe shaft. The arm 561s securedto the shaft by means of a disk '74located in a longitudinally extending slot 76 in the shaft and pivotallysecured to the extension 66 by a pin 78 extending at right angles to theshaft 70. This construction provides for universal movement of thehandle 36 relatively to the shaft '70 while-at the same time providing apositive connection between the handle and the shaft so that the lattercan be rotated by the handle. The universal mounting of the handle 30 onthe stud 62 and the shaft 70 makes it possible to move the handlethrough a small angle while maintaining the portion 52 of the handlesubstantially parallel to the edge of the flange 44. An advantage ofthis construction is that the operator can grasp the handle close to theportion of the arm nearest to him and move the arm over the block with aminimum of effort.

In order to provide for movement of the lever 32 through the samedistance regardless of the position of the presser arm, means isprovided for insuring movement of the end of the lever through the samedistance in each case. This means comprises a semi-annular member 80slidably mounted upon rods 82 carried by an up ward extension 84 of thecap 46. The semi-annular member 80 is connected to the shaft '70 by acurved lever 86 secured to the end of the shaft 70 and making connectionwith the semi-annular member 80 by a link 88. Thus, upon rotation of theshaft '70 by the handle 30 the semi-annular member 80 is movedheightwise of the presser arm and post. Upon release of the handle themember is forced downwardly by a spring 90 surrounding one of the rods82. The semi-annular member 89 is provided with a groove 92 within whichis positioned a split block 94. Connection between the block and thelever 32 is made by a pin 96 carried by the lever 32 and having at itsend a ball-shaped portion 98 positioned in a recess in the block 94,thus to form a universal con-- nection. The block 94 is slidable in thegroove 92 and is constantly in engagement with the groove. It is to benoted that the semi-annular member 80 is co-axial with the post and liesin a plane extending substantially at right angles to the post and tothe supporting rods 82. Consequently, as the presser arm 13 is rotatedabout the axis of the post the block 94 remains in engagement with themember 80 withaut causing any change in the angular position of thelever 32 and will always be in position to rotate the lever about theshaft 34 whenever the handle 30 is depressed. Thus, the movement of thehandle will result in uniform angular movement of the lever 32irrespective of the position of the presser member laterally of theblock.

As above pointed out, the lever 32 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 34.In effecting rotation of the l ver 36 to operate the clutch, the shafthas fixed thereto a plate 100 loosely carryinga pin 102 which extendsthrough a second pin 104 carried by cars 106 of the lever 32. The plate100 is normally held against the pin 104 by a spring 108 on the pin 102.Thus, in the normal operation of the lever 32 angular movement thereofresults in similar movement of the lever 36. Thus, a yielding connectionis provided between the handle 30 and the trip rod 38.

In order to limit the movement of the handle 30 within the range ofangular movement required to operate the clutch, the extension 66 isprovided with two arms 110 and 112 extending, respectively, uponopposite sides of the shaft '50. These arms are provided with set screws114 and 116 adapted to engage, respectively, the flange 44 and the bodyportion 42 of the presser arm. The set screws act as stops to limit therotation of the shaft 70 in either direction, thus reducing the amountof lost motion of the handle during its movement to effect an operationof the clutch. Longitudinal movement of the shaft 20 is pre vented bymeans of a set screw 118 carried by the casting 42 and extending into arecess 120 in the shaft.

The presser arm 18 is provided with a fixed handle 122 extending alongthe forward edge portion of the arm outwardly of and below the barn die30 to provide means for moving the arm over the block, particularly whenthe arm is located at the far side of the block.

The handles 30 and 122 are located adjacent to the edge portion of thepresser arm and extend substantially along the entire length of the armwith the result that they are readily accessible to an operator standingin front of the machine. The handles are positioned parallel to eachother and are so spaced that both handles can be grasped by the hand ofthe operator in moving the arm laterally of the cutting block andinitia- 'tion of a pressure operation can be had by a gripping actioneffective to rotate handle 30 about its axis. Means is provided forlocking the lever 36 against movement which would initiate unauthorizedoperation of the machine. To this end the lever 36 is provided with alug 124 adapted to be engaged by a set screw 126 carried by a link 128which can be swung into or out of engaging relation by a manuallyoperable rod 130. When the set-screw 126 engages the lug 124 depressionof the starting handle 30 will result in rotation of lever 32 but sincelever 36 is held against rotation the connection of the two levers willyield thereby avoiding any likelihood of breakage of parts without,however,-causing an operation of the machine.

In the operation of the machine, sheet material such as leather isplaced upon the cutting block 14 and a cutting die is located uponthematerial in position to out a blank, at which time the presser member 18has been moved rearwardly into position to expose the portion of thematerial which is to be operated upon. Ihe operator then grasps eitherthe handle 30 0r the handle 122 or both and draws the presser memberlaterally over the block until it is in position above the die. Thehandle 30 is then depressed, which operation results in elevation of thesemi-annular member 80 and angular movement of the lever 32 with theresult that the clutch lever 28 is operated to cause a reciprocation ofthe presser member to produce a pressure-applying operation. It is willbe observed that the handle 30 is advantageously located along the edgeof the presser member in position readily to be grasped by the operator,the operative portion of the handle being close to the edge of thepresser arm throughout substantially its entire length with the resultthat the operator can grasp the handle at the portion thereof which isnearest to him and can depress the handle to initiate thepressure-applying operation without materially changing the position ofhis hand. Furthermore, since movement of the handle through a definitedistance results likewise in the movement of the semi-annular member 80through a definite distance regardless of the position of the pressermember, the tripping of the clutch will be accomplished by the exertionof substantially the same force applied to the handle and acting throughsubstantially the same distance. Consequently, the tripping of theclutch will be uniform irrespective of the location of the pressermember transversely of the cutting block and will render the operationof the machine more uniform.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A clicking machine comprising a frame, a bed, a post mounted forreciprocation relatively to the frame, a presser member carried by thepost and arranged for angular movement about the axis of the post, powermeans for reciprocating the post to produce pressure-applying operationsof the presser member upon the bed, a lever for controlling the powermeans, manually controlled means carried by the presser member andmovable through a predetermined distance, and a connection between themanually-controlled means and the lever for efiecting movement of thelever through a constant predetermined distance irrespective of theangular position of the presser member.

2. A clicking machine comprising a frame, a

the frame, power means for reciprocatingthe post, means for controllingthe power means comprising a lever pivotally mounted upon the frame andhaving a free endwhich'extendsinto proximity to the post, and means foroperating the lever comprising a member having 1 a surface adapted forcontinuous engagement with the lever at a point located at a constantdistance from the pivotal axis of the lever.

3. A clicking machine comprising a frame, a postmounted in the frame forreciprocation relatively tothe frame, power means forreciprocating thepost, means for controlling the power means comprising a lever pivotallymounted upon the frame and having an endportion which extends intoproximityto the post, and means for operating the lever comprising amember movable angularly about the axis of thecpost and adaptedcontinuously to'engage the end portion of the lever at a point'locatedat a constant dis: tance from the pivotal axis ofthe lever.

4. AQclicking-machine comprising a frame, a post mounted in the framefor angular movement post mounted in the frame for'angular movementabout its axis and for reciprocation relatively to about its axis andfor reciprocation relatively to r the frame, power means forreciprocating-the post, means for controlling the power means comprisinga lever pivotally mounted upon the frame and having an end portion whichextends into proximity to the post, and means for operating the levercomprising a member carried by the post and adapted toengage the samepart of said end portion of the lever in any of the various angularpositions of the post.

5. A clicking machine comprising a frame, a bed, apost mounted forreciprocation relatively to the frame, a presser arm carried by the postand movable laterally over the bed, power means for reciprocating thepost thereby producing pressure-applying operations of the presser armupon the bed, means for controlling the power means comprising a leverpivotally mounted upon the frame, and means for moving the lever througha constant predetermined angle comprising a member movable with thepresser arm and adapted normally throughout angular movements of thepost continuously to engage the lever at a predetermined pointheightwise of the post.

6. A clicking machine comprising a frame, a bed, a post mounted forreciprocation relatively to the frame, a presser arm carried by the postand arranged for angular movement about the axis of the post, powermeans for reciprocating the post in producing pressure-applyingoperations of the presser arm upon the bed, means for controlling thepower means comprising a lever pivotally mounted upon the frame, meansfor imparting a predetermined angular movement to the lever comprising amember movable angularly about the axis of the post and positionedcontinuously to engage the lever at a predetermined point relatively tothe pivotal axis of the lever, and manually operable means carried bythe presser arm for moving the member heightwise of the post.

7. A clicking machine comprising a frame, a bed, a post mounted in theframe for angular movement about its axis and for reciprocationrelatively to the frame, a presser arm secured to the post, power meansfor reciprocating the post in producing pressure-applying operations ofthe presser arm upon the bed, an annular member disposed concentricallyof the post and mounted for movement therewith. and height-wise'thereof,means for initiating operation of the power means comprising a leveroneend of which is adapted continuously to engage the annular member,.and means for moving the annular member heightwise ofthe post to effectan operation of the lever. v

8. A clicking machinecomprisinga frame, a cutting bed, a post mounted inthe frame, a presser arm carried by the post, meansfor reciprocating thepost to produce pressure operations of the arm upon the bed, a clutchmember for controlling reciprocations of the post, a lever pivotallymounted upon the frame for actuating the clutch member, an annularmember secured to the post and making slidable engagement with thelever, and a handle formoving the annular member in a direction toproduce angular movement of the lever.

9. A clicking machine comprising a frame, a work supporting bed, a postmounted. in the frame, a presser member secured to the post and movablelaterally over the bed, means for re- 10. A clicking machine comprisinga frame, a

cutting bed, a post mounted in the frame for reciprocation relatively tothe bed, a presser arm secured to the post and mounted for movementtherewith transversely of the bed, a clutch member for controllingreciprocations of the post, a

bracket uponthe arm, a sector mounted upon the arm for movementheightwise of the post, a member associated with the clutch member andslidably engaging the sector, and a handle on the arm for effectingmovement of the sector heightwise of the post.

, 11. A clickingmachine comprising a frame, a bed, a postmounted forreciprocation relatively to the frame, a presser member mounted upon thepostfor movement laterally over the bed about the axis of the post,power means for reciprocating the presser member, a handle extendingalong one side of the presser member and fixedly secured thereto, andmeans for initiating operation of the power means comprising a movablehandle carried by the presser member and extending along one sidethereof in proximity to the first-mentioned handle.

12. A clicking machine comprising a frame, a bed, a post mounted forreciprocation relatively to the frame, a presser arm carried by the postand movable laterally over the bed, power means for reciprocatingthepost, means for controlling the power means comprising a handle rigidlysecured to and extending along one side of the arm, and a movable handleextending substantially parallel and adjacent to the first-mentionedhandle.

13. A clicking machine comprising a frame, a bed, a post mounted in theframe, a presser mem ber carried by the post and arranged for movementlaterally over the bed, power means for reciprocating the pressermember, means for controlling the power means comprising a movablehandle mounted upon the presser member, and a fixed handle mounted uponthe presser member adjacent to the movable handle in position tocooperate therewith in effecting manual operation of the movable handle.

MILTON H. BALLARD.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIGN.

Patent No. 1,992,936. March 5, 1935.

MILTQN H. BALLARD.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as foiiows: Page 3,second column, line 48, claim 5, for "post" read arm; and that the saidLetters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the somemay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 13th day of August, A. D. 1935.

Lesiie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

